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The Break
The break refers to the policies introduced by the government to guide the development of the telegraph line. The policies marked the break of the earlier laid out communications framework; they were completely different and gave a new direction and pattern in the development of communications in the U.S.
In the 1830’s, the development of information was hampered by the need to protect the government role in communications. Jackson and his followers, however, did not do that. This erupted into a political rivalry between Jackson’s group and the government (Lloyd 40). It is at this time that Morse invented a contraption that comprised of a pen, a magnet that pulled an iron piece, a motor clock that drew the paper strip under the pen. These tools were set up together and could create markings on the paper. The device received and transmitted information by electrical means. Morse wanted to develop an experimental telegraph line and needed funds from the government. He failed to get government support and had to wait for five years until another party would take power and dominate policymaking. It is at this time that the party that took power laid out policies before they could support the development of the telegraph.
The policy decisions made involving the telegraph were significant in that they were different from what was earlier set by the founders. The policies include: investing early of the technology, secluding the control of the technology in private areas, continue subsidy of the technology industry and a weak response to the rise of private monopoly (Lloyd 41).

These policies were different from the framework initially established by founders of communications. The pattern brought out by the policies favored the mercantile faction; made democracy weak and on the other hand, supported a lively commercial market.
The change of the communications framework was indeed a significant historical moment as seen during the reign of the last Whig president, Millard, who supported the implementation of the policies. A transatlantic telegraph code was developed in 1857 as a result of the Congress vote that supported the project. The Congress passed the Pacific Telegraph Act gave subsidies to private businesses to build a transcontinental telegraphic line. In 1861, when the civil war began, Western Union’s general manager authorized the construction of a military telegraph that covered 15000 miles. From then the Union expanded telegraph lines to the north, south and sparsely inhabited western region. This set the pattern of communications policy in the U.S.
The Telegraph supported the expansion of the nation by facilitating communications in the wide distances. It turned out to be more reliable than the postal service. The Telegraph had a great impact on newspapers. All Americans were finally able to communicate equally. Thus none could dominate the other (Lloyd 53). Telegraph service commercialized news. It further created incentives for many to be responsible for newsgathering. A Postal Telegraph Bill was passed, and it allowed the postal offices to offer telegraph services. The telegraph posed limitations on the transmission, and this led to the formation of the Associated Press; it comprised a combination of newspaper groups to share in the cost of transmitting political news via telegraph. The AP was, therefore, able to control what was being and could adequately co-ordinate time-sensitive and market-sensitive information. Further, the telegraph facilitated information diffusion that expanded suffrage as well as expanding the Western Union. This enabled the Jacksonian Democrats to come to power which brought in a new political force (Lloyd 57).
Work Cited
Lloyd, Mark. Prologue to a farce: Democracy and communication in America. University of Illinois Press, 2006.